doctorphalanx | 27 Dec 2014 4:08 a.m. PST |
Having little experience in this area, I'm wondering how best this could be tackled… There are plans and plenty of photos of scale models about, so the overall design isn't a mystery. I'm also not bothered about making the masts and sails. The big question is how to model the hull. Should I cannibalise an existing ready-made model? Or, if starting from scratch, should I use wood or plasticard or green stuff or some other material? Maybe even foamboard? As I will probably want three or four of these, some element of replication might also be relevant. I've looked at traditional model boat making techniques, but they look like overkill for a comparatively small model. I'm not promising to tackle this, but I am thinking about the options. |
MajorB | 27 Dec 2014 4:20 a.m. PST |
I'd suggest you start with oe of Peter Pig's pirate ships: peterpig.co.uk/range18.htm - and rerig it with a lateen rig to create a xebec. |
doctorphalanx | 27 Dec 2014 4:33 a.m. PST |
If going that route, I think the schooner looks like the best starting point. It would also be possible to reuse one of the mast/sail pieces with a bit of modelling. |
HarryHotspurEsq | 27 Dec 2014 5:36 a.m. PST |
Doc, I will be ordering the schooner for the very same purpose when PP re-open on the 2nd Jan. I have ordered some Skytrex galleys and will use their masts on the schooner hull. I may have to find a longer bowsprit, and will look to see whether its worth doing anything the extent the overhang of the stern. |
doctorphalanx | 27 Dec 2014 6:16 a.m. PST |
Harry, For masts I would use pins or wire or even a cocktail stick. The sails I'd make from soft metal – the sort of thing they used to make toothpaste tubes from and which is still used for tubes of tomato puree etc. But Martin might be willing to supply separate masts/sails. I'd make the bowsprit similar to the masts and add a bit of green stuff to fill it out at the base. I think the rear overhang is an important part of the look and would make that from balsa with a bit of plastic card to create the bulwark. That's basically job done. |
Lt Col Pedant | 27 Dec 2014 6:26 a.m. PST |
Look out for Pirateology's Xebec on (e.g.) eBay. The one separately boxed, -not the one in the board game. In 1/450 scale, it's about the size of a large Xebec. |
doctorphalanx | 27 Dec 2014 7:34 a.m. PST |
I'm tempted by the Pirateology ship but to get one via eBay in the UK would cost $8.50 USD plus $17.15 USD postage, so buying four would be over $100 USD which seems rather a lot…over £64.00 GBP sterling. Maybe the seller could combine the postage. |
David Manley | 27 Dec 2014 8:26 a.m. PST |
If you want to see what they come out like here's a picture of one of my two (I bought them in the US during a trip a few years ago along with the Junks)
I really out to trim off that green pennant and replace it with something better |
doctorphalanx | 27 Dec 2014 8:41 a.m. PST |
It does look good…and a lot less trouble than converting or scratch-building… Did you have to grind down the base to make it waterline? |
David Manley | 27 Dec 2014 9:44 a.m. PST |
Yes, although I chopped it off with a hacksaw rather than grinding or sanding |
doctorphalanx | 30 Dec 2014 3:13 a.m. PST |
I finally weakened and ordered three of the Pirateology ships from eBay – a late Christmas present for myself. Ordering them together reduced the postage so the actual total cost was $55.77 USD (£37.07) which wasn't as bad as I had feared… |
Cacique Caribe | 30 Dec 2014 4:15 p.m. PST |
Could this help, as a template?
link Dan |
GGouveia | 30 Dec 2014 9:19 p.m. PST |
What scale are the piratetology ships? |
Volunteer | 31 Dec 2014 12:05 a.m. PST |
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doctorphalanx | 24 Jan 2015 6:51 a.m. PST |
@ GGouveia No scale stated but perfectly compatible with Peter Pig 1/450 IMO. I've just added some comparison pictures to my blog at link Whilst I believe the scale of the detail is OK, the Pirateology ship represents quite a large craft. Perhaps pirate xebecs would have been smaller? Anyway, I'm pleased with them. |
GGouveia | 24 Jan 2015 12:22 p.m. PST |
Thanks, those look great both of them. |
Cacique Caribe | 24 Jan 2015 7:28 p.m. PST |
Not sure about proper scale scale, but that's a nice little ship. I'm noticing that, unlike European galleys, the Xebec had a very sexy (graceful) belly:
link Dan |
HarryHotspurEsq | 25 Jan 2015 4:29 a.m. PST |
That's a handy link Dan, thanks |